THE PRESIDENT: Late Saturday night in
Washington, Sunday morning in China, a United States naval maritime patrol
aircraft on a routine surveillance mission in international airspace over the
South China Sea collided with one of two Chinese fighters that were shadowing
our plane. Both our aircraft and a Chinese aircraft were damaged in the
collision. Our aircraft made an emergency landing at an airfield on China's
Hainan Island.

We have been in contact with the Chinese government
about this incident since Saturday night. From our own information,
we know that the United States naval plane landed safely. Our embassy
in Beijing has been told by the Chinese government that all 24 crew members are
safe.

Our priorities are the prompt and safe return of the
crew, and the return of the aircraft without further damaging or tampering. The
first step should be immediate access by our embassy personnel to our crew
members. I am troubled by the lack of a timely Chinese response to
our request for this access.

Our embassy officials are on the ground and prepared
to visit the crew and aircraft as soon as the Chinese government allows them to
do so. And I call on the Chinese government to grant this access
promptly.

Failure of the Chinese government to react promptly
to our request is inconsistent with standard diplomatic practice, and with the
expressed desire of both our countries for better relations.

Finally, we have offered to provide search and
rescue assistance to help the Chinese government locate its missing aircraft and
pilot. Our military stands ready to help.